Four Points: Arguments for Israel

In this age of sound-bites, here are some key facts at your fingertips.

When it comes to Israel, tempers sometimes flare, and sometimes we don't even know how to respond. We might hear a new argument or a new perspective, and the limited knowledge we have proves to be insufficient. Especially in the age of sound-bites and knee-jerk politics, we need to have more facts at our fingertips, organize what we know, and be prepared to respond effectively.

Recognizing this, here is a "Four-Point" educational campaign produced by Hasbara Fellowships. Each of the following 10 topics has four bullet-points -- to help deepen our understanding of the major issues of the Mideast conflict.

Settlements

1) Jews can live in Mexico City, Bangkok, St. Louis, and any city in the world (except in Saudi Arabia) -- but the PA wants to forbid Jews from living in the very cradle of Judaism.

2) The only period in the last 3,000 years without a continued Jewish presence in the West Bank was the 19 years between 1948-1967 when the Jordanian government banned Jews from living there.

3) In 1979, Ariel Sharon dismantled Yamit and other settlements in the Sinai when it was absolutely clear that compromise would bring a true peace.

4) Since the disputed territories were never part of a sovereign nation, and were acquired in a defensive war, international law permits the voluntary settlement of the land. Recognizing this, the Oslo agreements never addressed the issue of Jewish or Arab settlements.

Refugees

1) There would be no refugee problem if seven Arab nations had not attacked Israel upon its inception in 1948.

3)800,000 Jewish refugees
were expelled from Arab countries in 1948, but their descendents are normalized today because they were absorbed by Israel and other countries.

4) As opposed to refugees in Arab countries, Israel integrated Arabs within its borders as citizens, and 1.2 million Israeli Arabs now enjoy citizenship, benefits, and governmental representation in Israel.

Compromises for Peace

1) Israel signed independent peace treaties with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994), each time giving away either land, oil, settlements, or strategic military advantage to achieve a peaceful agreement.

3) The very formula "Land for Peace" indicates that Arabs compromise for what they want most -- land, while Israel compromises for what it wants most -- peace.

4) In 1917, 1937, 1947, 1956, 1979, and 1993 Israeli leaders established a pattern of accepting the handover of land in exchange for peace agreements with its Arab neighbors.

Waiting for a true Partner

1) The real PLO took the Israeli Olympic delegation hostage in the 1972 Munich Olympic games, and after failing to extort the release of Palestinian prisoners, killed 11 Israeli athletes.

2) The real PLO invented the idea of skyjackings in 1970, and instilled fear in travelers across the world.

3) The real PLO shot and killed the elderly, unarmed, wheelchair-bound, U.S. citizen Leon Klinghoffer on the Achille Lauro cruise liner in 1985.

4) The real PLO continues to incite violence against Jews, promote the armed struggle to "liberate all of Palestine," and indoctrinate Palestinian children into a culture of hatred where death is the ultimate prize.

The 3,000-year Jewish connection

1) The only independent sovereign nations to ever exist in the Land of Israel were the two ancient Jewish commonwealths, the second of which was destroyed in 70 of the common era.

2) For 3,000 years, Jews have expressed the desire to return to their ancestral homeland: at the Passover Seder, the Yom Kippur service, in daily prayer, in the blessing after meals, under the wedding canopy, on the yearly day of national mourning Tisha B'Av, and by placing Israeli soil in the coffin of their deceased.

3) Even after exile, Jews managed to keep a continual presence of Jewish communities in such cities as Jerusalem, Tzfat, Tiberias, Shechem, and Hebron.

4) Centuries before the inception of Islam, Jews were yearning to return to Israel, and the Koran itself records this in many suras (chapters), such as 17:7, 17:104, and 5:21 that tells the Jews to "enter into the Holy Land which Allah has assigned to you."

Holy Sites

1) When Israel gained control and reunified Jerusalem in 1967, rather than forbid Muslim worship or close the mosques, it allowed the Muslim Waqf (religious authority) to administer and control the Temple Mount and maintain the Al-Aqsa mosque.

2) Under Jordanian rule, Jews were forbidden from praying at the Western Wall; the Mount of Olives cemetery and 58 Jewish synagogues were destroyed. However, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim sites are open to all worshippers under Israeli rule -- except for the site of the ancient Jewish Temple, the Temple Mount, where Jews are normally forbidden to pray.

3) When Israel transferred military control to the PA, angry mobs burned and destroyed Jewish holy sites and religious artifacts at Jericho, Hebron, and Joseph's tomb in Nablus.

4) In 2002, Palestinian terrorists took 30 monks hostage in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity
because they knew Jewish soldiers would not shoot inside. After the hostages were freed, investigators found the Church profaned and desecrated.

Jerusalem

1) Mecca and Medina are the holiest cities to Muslims; Vatican City is the seat of Catholicism. While Jerusalem has significance to many religions, Jerusalem is supreme and holiest only to the Jews. When it was conquered by Jordan in 1949, no Muslim dignitary or leader visited Jerusalem in any official, public, or religious capacity.

2) Jerusalem has been central to Judaism since biblical times, when it was made the eternal spiritual capital of the Jewish people.

3) Jews have been the majority in Jerusalem since 1840, and there has been a continual Jewish presence in Jerusalem since the destruction of the Temple in the year 70 of the common era. (Paul Johnson, History of the Jews)

1) The 1917 Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations Mandate, the 1947 UN Partition Plan, and Israel's 1949 admission into the UN reaffirmed Israel the international right to exist as the Jewish homeland.

2) UN Security Council Resolution 242 reads that Israel should relinquish land only if it is in the context of a "peaceful and accepted settlement."

3) UN Resolution 242 requires that all states in the area recognize Israel's "right to live in peace with secure and recognized borders free from threats or acts of force."

4) Until 2002, Israel was the only UN member state ineligible to sit on the Security Council, and today that right is still only limited and temporary. Since the 1970s, an Arab-Soviet-Third World Bloc reinforced Israel's outcast status by barring Israel from other key UN bodies and making Israel the object of more investigative committees and special representatives than any other state in the UN.

Israel's Excessive Restraint

1) Israel is facing a serious threat -- Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly fired at civilians and soldiers from hospitals, mosques and schools, using humans as shields and ambulances to transport weaponry.

2) Though the intifada has heaped violence upon Israel, there have been, on average, less than one person injured per Palestinian riot. Israel is currently training 26 other countries in technology it has created to minimize injury in crowd and riot control situations.

3) During "Black September" in Jordan in 1970, 2,500 Palestinian rioters were killed in 10 days by the Jordanian army. In 1993, UN Peacekeeping troops justified the killing of almost 100 Somalis by noting that, "Everyone on the ground in the vicinity was a combatant, because they meant to do us harm."

4) In April 2002, IDF ground forces went door-to-door to target known terrorists in Jenin, rather than use artillery or carpet bomb the city from above. Israel put its own troops at risk and lost 23 of its own soldiers because of this concern to not injure the innocent among its enemies.

Palestinian Lexicon

1) Hudna: strategic ceasefire engineered to rearm for the next battle, in English it is referred to as a "peace agreement." In the West, we tend to think of a "ceasefire" leading to peace - a Hudna is designed to lead to war.

2) Fatwa: Religiously inspired death warrant on the head of an enemy, all Jews living in Israel have a fatwa issued by Hamas leadership.

3) Occupation: Term describing a Jewish presence in any of the Land of Israel, including Israeli cities such as Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Hadera; in Western media it is tailored to refer only to the West Bank and Gaza.

4) Jihad: The religious struggle to eradicate the Jews from Israel and establish an Islamic society in their stead.

Related Articles:

Visitor Comments: 42

(40)
RDW,
March 3, 2011 5:47 PM

1) Jews can live in Mexico City, Bangkok, St. Louis, and any city in the world (except in Saudi Arabia) -- but the PA wants to forbid Jews from living in the very cradle of Judaism.
Nobody wants to forbid Jews from living there, they want to stop the Jews from kicking the Palestinians off their land.

Jordan is Palestine, not Israel,
July 20, 2012 11:00 AM

Jordan is Palestine, not Israel

Funny how nobody who hates Israel ever wants to hold the Arabs accountable for their own war crimes, bigotry and hatred of their own kind. Overthrow the monarchies in the region and let's move into modern times, shall we?

Just think,
November 4, 2012 3:17 AM

Moving into modern times (or adopting democracy) is dangerous for Israel. The monarchs are a constant and easier to control. When Egypt's revolution wanted to overthrow a dictator, Netanyahu did his best to try and keep the dictator in place.

(39)
Glintspear,
January 23, 2011 7:47 AM

The truth about Jihad

While the above is a very old post, it is extremely important to set the record straight: Jihad in its original context (the meaning of Mohammed) did not mean inner struggle, even if modern Muslims would like you to believe that or actually live their lives according to that principle, or because of Mohammed's claim that the greatest Jihad was internal, the fact is that 99% of all references to Jihad in the Koran and supporting texts refer to war. That is a fact.
As for the conditions under which Jihad might be undertaken—when, by whom, against whom, with what sort of declaration of war, ending how, with what division of spoils, and so on—these are matters that Islamic religious scholars over the centuries worked out in excruciating detail. But about the basic meaning of Jihad—warfare against unbelievers to extend Muslim domains—there was perfect consensus in pre-modern times. For example, the most important collection of Hadith (reports about the sayings and actions of Muhammad), called Sahih al-Bukhari, contains 199 references to Jihad, and every one of them refers to it in the sense of armed warfare against non-Muslims. To quote the 1885 Dictionary of Islam, Jihad is "an incumbent religious duty, established in the Qur'an and in the traditions (hadith) as a divine institution, and enjoined especially for the purpose of advancing Islam and of repelling evil from Muslims." In the vast majority of pre-modern cases Jihad signified one thing only: armed action against non-Muslims justified by both Allah and His messenger (Muhammad) as requisite for the advancement of Islam.
Do not accept what Muslims tell you about Islam. It is absolutely critical that you do the research yourself.
A good place to start your research would be the site: PeaceWithRealism. Here is an excellent article on Jihad. http://www.peacewithrealism.org/jihad/jihad02.htm.

(38)
Woody,
April 9, 2010 9:37 AM

Updated Arguments

HI , it would be great if this page could be updated with for example.... missiles, the wall, recent developments.

(37)
Sara,
March 11, 2010 8:15 PM

Thank you

Thanks for the Summary. Recently here, in San Francisco there was a large and riotous march in support of palestine. I found it shocking that young american, college age and younger, jumped in with the yelling and flag waving. I think we have an issue of under-education about the Middle East here in the US and people here forget who it is they are dealing with as well as the policies they are supporting when getting involved with the pro-palestine sect. I don't understand the disconnect and any help at giving people full facts that can enable them to make informed decisions is much needed and appreciated. Thank you Again!

(36)
Michael,
June 11, 2008 12:29 PM

good but...

While I am a Jew and appreciate you presenting the other side of the argument, a jihad is a struggle and not the deffinition you describe. Just because much of the PA uses propoganda and lies does not mean we are justified to use it too.

(35)
josh,
December 18, 2005 12:00 AM

thanks!

i would like to thank you for summarising some good strong points for the case of israel.

(34)
Anonymous,
November 11, 2005 12:00 AM

I think you are analyzing this incorrectly

Anonymous - there is a difference between being denied a visa to live in a country based on quotas vs being denied to live in a country because of your religious beliefs.

Sure, illegal immigration is an issue for a number of countries. However, there a good chance that there will be NO immigration for Jews AT ALL in any land that becomes Palestine. That is the point of the author.

(33)
Anonymous,
October 13, 2004 12:00 AM

Biased laws against immigration or settlement are commonplace throughtout the world.

Your article loses credibility with its first point, "Jews can live in Mexico City, Bangkok, St. Louis, and any city in the world (except in Saudi Arabia)" As an immigration lawyer, I can assure you that this is not true unless they have specific permission from the U.S. government as citizens, permanent residents, or non-immigrant visa holders. For example, if a young man (Jew or Arab) from Jerusalem wants to visit, much less live permanently, in the U.S., the answer is probably NO - you can't even visit unless you can prove that you won't stay. This is true at U.S. consular posts around the world and is most strictly enforced in developing countries. Legal immigration to the U.S. is strictly limited which is why there are so many illegal immigrants - the law does not permit them to settle here.

Almost all countries bar outsiders from settling within their borders, with limited exceptions.

Whether this system of national sovereignty and border control is moral or even practical is debatable. But there is nothing unusual about the policy that Jews cannot move to the West Bank.

It is not unusual to have racist or otherwise morally offensive immigration and and nationality laws and policies.

(32)
L,
August 9, 2004 12:00 AM

Insightful arguments

I'm not Jewish myself but I STRONGLY oppose anti-Semitism. Thanks a lot for providing me with some good facts for when I next have to stick up for you guys (sadly, that's bound to happen sometime).

Will do whatever I can,
L

(31)
Denis MacEoin,
May 25, 2004 12:00 AM

Convincing and to the point

Only a brief comment: the piece is terrific, but there are two errors in the glossary at the end. A fatwa is not 'a death warrant', but simply a ruling on any aspect of Islamic law (which could involve sentencing someone to death). Strivtly speaking, it would be illegal to sentence all Jews to death, since they are supposed to be under Muslim protection. But Israeli Jews have dared to take and rule over what was considered Islamic Territory, which means they are now subject to death under the rules of jihad. The only way Jews would be accepted by any Muslim state would be as second-class citizens.

Similarly, the gloss of the word jihad. Jihad is much broader than that, being religious-ly sanctioned warfare designed to expand the realm of Islam (dar al-Islam) as far as possible. Jews and Christians occupy a privileged position here (unlike pagans etc). If they fight against Muslims, they may be killed. But if they surrender, they may not be forced to convert (though that has, of course, happened), but they will have to adopt an inferior position vis ˆ vis their Muslim overlords. The existence of Israel overturns the Muslim view of how the world should be organized. In the past 150 years or so, it's the unbelievers who have been successful, which calls in doubt the whole Islamic scheme of things. And the psychological strain this creates lies behind much of the terrorist activity and, of course, the ongoing refusal to accept Israel as a legitimate state.

(30)
Philip,
May 5, 2004 12:00 AM

Amazing and Concise

It takes skill to be able to article so cleanly facts we've all heard or known. I am so grateful to Mr. Weinstein and Aish for making this information possible. We should make sure the world reads and understands these facts and the truth about how the world has treated Israel and the Jews.

(29)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2004 12:00 AM

All what you wrote is so true! Jerusalem has never been so "international" only since it came under Israel's property! Before that, not a single jew were allowed to even visit the wailing wall!

(28)
Anonymous,
March 21, 2004 12:00 AM

informative article...

it should be sent to every English written newspaper in the world...historical memory as usual is clouded.. by those who wish to distort History...

(27)
Onyekachukwu I.Uchechukwu,
March 20, 2004 12:00 AM

Your programmes are great.

I am not an Israelite but to be frank each day i don`t visit your website it seems as if i have been cut of from the world. I pray that God Almighty will continue to give you the wisdom to be able to each us the young coming ones the secrets of life`s success.
Thanks and remain bless.

(26)
Anonymous,
March 19, 2004 12:00 AM

who are we trying to convince?

These points are brilliant. I hope they will strengthen the hearts of Jews who do not understand. But I've found it pointless to try to convince others that the Jews have a right to be in Israel. (go to the online seminar at this Aish website on anti-Semitism--some people do not want facts and never did.)

My free advise is to choose carefully who you argue with. Know WHY you are arguing and what you want to accomplish so you can evaluate if it's necessary.

Move to Israel.

Give Tzedaka.

Chag Sameach.

(25)
Anonymous,
March 19, 2004 12:00 AM

Send this to Bush

High level U.S. officials should have a copy of this essay!

(24)
michael d burkett,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

excellent

to the point and a good read

(23)
richard lykins,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

great information

Thank you for the valued information on the 4 Points on Aish. It will definitely help me understand more of what Israel has had to endure and will give me ammunition whan I hear how the differnt factions against Israel have been treated so badly. which as we know has never been true. Great work on this info. and again Toda Raba.

(22)
Anonymous,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

great article!!!

From 1948-1967 the Arabs had controll of the Old City (of Jerusalem). What did they do with it?

NOTHING!!!

They left it empty and desolate after destroying it and leaving it burning.

Remember, the Arabs don't want Israel, they just don't want the Jews to have Israel.

(21)
Ann,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

Very clear and consise!

Thanks for bringing all these points to us in a very clear comprehensible way so your readers can in turn express them in simple terms to the misinformed.

(20)
steinberg,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

Hate and Truth

Do not be fooled that your excellent truthful article will in any way be accepted by the hordes of Anti israeli journalist and university "academics". The point of reasonable argument has alas passed away a lomg time ago and all that remains is biased and distorted reporting and revisionist teachings in the universities.
The palestinians have been forcefully fed HATE against jews and Israel ever since the days of the muslim brotherhood. even Anwar Sadat was killed by them for offering a hand to Israel. No dialogue can succeed against those who hate you passionately.
Do not be fooled or coerced by those who ask you to offer concessions to the PAl authority. Any such offers will be viewed as signs of weakness and will bring down the Hate not one iota.
Wait for the demise of Arafat when there may be a window when you can talk to them ALONE - without the rest of the arab world.
Do not be fooled by your yearning to be accepted as a nation amongst nations by bowing to UN or other anti Israeli nations . They will never accept you anyway. Such is the state of the shameful world we live in today.
recognise daily the true friend you have in America and do not be afraid to praise them openly on any ocassion.
Keep up the struggle with my heartfelt sympathies
David Steinberg Gold Coast Australia

(19)
Solly,
March 18, 2004 12:00 AM

The Best 4 Points about Israel

This article should be puplished in New York Times, or other newspaper for others to read and learn, about Israel and its history.
This article is Brief and TO THE POINT.

(18)
Anonymous,
March 17, 2004 12:00 AM

Great points!

As a college student I am absolutely befuddled at the lack of truths with regard to Israel. And it is often not because they don't know, but because they don't want to know. As this article shows, the truth is available for those willing to hear it. That these defenses for Israel usually go under the radar only reflects those who hate the Jewish state.

(17)
Thomas Sebastian,
March 17, 2004 12:00 AM

Facts for Real Reflection

Dear Daniel you kindle the minds and generate passions and reason as well as pose question why Jews and Arabs brothers kill each other for land or peace OR for the selfish interest of
some terrorist interests

(16)
Esther Jenckes,
March 17, 2004 12:00 AM

Thank you for printing what I have been saying

I have been saying some of what you printed for years, having visited Israel two times . My friends will read your article and believe.

(15)
Anonymous,
March 16, 2004 12:00 AM

This is an article that should be read and used by everyone.

The four points in each category succinctly point out what every Jew should know so that he or she is able to refute false information and turn anti-Israelis into pros.

(14)
Jane,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

Excellent, excellent column

It's a shame this doesn't get into the managed idiot-media. I feel like printing multiple copies and plastering them on every street corner. Great article Daniel. People have such short memories.

(13)
Regina Blessing,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

A very informative article. I printed it out so my children can see it when they visit. I am personally in agreement with Israel. It is sad to see that Spain has given in to fear by terrorism and this troubles me.With elections comming up here in the USA I pray we Americans will not vote the same way, for if we do, I believe that Israel will have another problem. I am with you all the way and I try to talk to neighbors and family all I can. Peace be on Israel! Regina

(12)
Anonymous,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

excellent

Excellent and very illustrative

(11)
Linda,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

great facts--it's not fiction

This article is reality. The whole world should read it.

(10)
Ruth Broch,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

Excellent, concise article. Am passing it around to American friends.

(9)
Teresa,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

Thank you!

From the bottom of my heart. I need this information to counteract the lies that are being spread in the mainstream press. I stand with Israel. May there be peace in Jerusalem.

(8)
Sarah,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

Get This Printed in Every Major Newspaper Worldwide

It's time for this to be printed worldwide, and furthermore, this article should only be the beginning of a WORLDWIDE media campaign that must emphasise these points and more, time after time. Give the world the REAL HISTORY of the Land of Israel and don't take "no" for an answer.
Every day I am appalled at the ignorance of people who have until now only been given the PLO media version of the history of Israel. Many people are totally brainwashed and in great NEED the information in Daniel's article. If Israel won't take the duty on to set the world straight on these things with its own media campaign, then we in the rest of the world need to do it ourselves.
I do not believe that there is any good reason why Israel has not combatted the hate-filled twisted rhetoric the PLO and others put out regularly in the media, other than the leadership in Israel is afraid of irritating the rest of the world.
It's time. It's PAST time for a media campaign of this sort that tells the truth. How many more innocent Jews will die while the world has either no reaction or believes that Israel deserves it?
Way to go, Daniel. Excellent article. Now get it out into the rest of the world to see.

(7)
Howard G,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

Further analysis

A good well-reasoned summary. However, let me add this lessons.

1. From 1976-2000, 5 US presidents actively engaged in mediation and sometimes pressure. Israelis and American Jews at various times complained that the US was pushing Israel into dangerous compromises, but all in all Israel did far better in that period than from 2000-2003. Having a friend play the role of an honest broker was helpful to Israel. In 2000, Israel found almost unequivocal support and no pressure. Unfortunately, there was no stopgap, no shuttle diplomacy, no Camp David, and tensions could escalate and escalate, retailiation followed retaliation.

2. From 1980-2000, many conservatives in Israel said, let us get tough, you'll see what we can accomplish. Sharon's policies have not been a success. With the aid of hindsight, we see that the US made numerous critical mistakes, by not mediating, by not sending Powell or Bush to meet with Arab leaders, by not convening a Summit, but allowing tensions to increase.

2. It's true World War II was caused by failing to stop a madman; World War I was caused by rushing into conflict, and Vietnam by failing to understand the hazards of conflict. The US must assimiliate the lessons of all three.

3. A true peace is not a realistic attainable objective in the near future, reduction of tensions is.
Barak's notion of all-encompassing peace was not feasible. There should be long-range peace plans with incremental rewards for Arab compliance.

4. Israel should use force and its actions in 1967 and 1973 clearly appropriate. The frequent retailiation have seemingly accomplished nothing other than strengthening radical Islam.
The bombs served no realistic military objective, and the retailiation little practical one. Some sense of political reality and the need for compromise and coalition-building must be recognized. Doing a George Bush or Ariel Sharon, there is right and wrong, and we are right, accomplishes little. The US for 150 years enslaved part of its people, and would not permit them basic liberties in the south for another 100 years. We should recognize that couching conflicts in terms of good and evil is overly simplistic.

5. The isolate Arafat and let Israel help select the Arab leader campaign was a failure. The US's endorsement of isolation of Arafat was a tactical error which again strengthened radical Islam, and increased tensions.

(6)
ray,
March 15, 2004 12:00 AM

hard facts, clear victory

Thank you thank you thank you for these facts, they will definity help me to help you in this troubled times

G-d Bless

(5)
Rebecca Witonsky,
March 14, 2004 12:00 AM

useful explanation of PLO lexicon

I enjoyed Daniel Weinstein's explanation of the PLO lexicon which is designed to deceive the Jews into accepting a terrorist state in their midst and to deceive the West into thinking the Arabs want peace when they seek war. Most illuminating is that they regard all Jewish cities in Israel such as Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Hadera as being "occupied territory." Also equally revealing is that their "hudna" is a tactical retreat until the next battle, not a step toward permanent peace.

(4)
Harlan Norem,
March 14, 2004 12:00 AM

HOW can this information get published in the public media?

I read more reports-with-integrity in Aish dot com than in any of the popular press or media. Is there a way to break that damn dam? Weinstein's Four Points needs and cries out for wide distribution. (I am not Jewish.)

(3)
Anonymous,
March 14, 2004 12:00 AM

Thank you

Thank you and bless you, Daniel Weinstein, for sharing this insight with the world.
I whish more people would read and know it.
To you and your wife all the best.

Rudolf
A german non-Jew.

(2)
Stan Sadava,
March 14, 2004 12:00 AM

comments on sound bites

Generally well-done, a bit simplistic but that's the price of brevity. I take issue only with the reasoning around the settlements. The issue is not Jews living in the West bank, but Israel having the right to annex those areas, formally or de facto. Arabs live in Israel by right, and Jews should live in the West bank in what eventually becomes Palestine. Of course, as things stand now, we cannot count on a Palestinian government to protect the rights of these Jews, as Israel does protect Arabs. And so the only possible solution is to get out for the sake of some semblance of peace when it comes.

(1)
Joseph,
March 14, 2004 12:00 AM

Israeli p.r.

Israel has an appaling P.R. track record. We know the truth of what you state and we expect the world to believe that and because it is the truth, people/nations will side with us. All we have to do is wait. The PLO and its ilk have no LEGITIMATE claim to any part of Israel. We should go on the offensive, on every front (political, military, strong P.R., etc...) and damn the world.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
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